The 1st edition of the National Entrepreneurship Genius in Benin (GeneB) organized by the National University of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (UNSTIM) officially opened this Thursday, August 03, 2023 on the Lokossa university campus. The Minister of Higher Education, Eléonore Ladékan Yayi, in the presence of rectoral, municipal and prefectoral authorities, business leaders, the national employers’ council, crowned heads and several other executives, proceeded with the solemn launching of the works.
Scheduled for August 02 to 05, 2023, the 1st edition of GéneB started at INSTI Lokossa. Focusing on the theme of “Science and Technology for Sustainable Development Goals“, these activities aim to promote entrepreneurship among young people, and to showcase the technological innovations made by students.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the Rector of UNSTIM, Professor Djimon Joachim Gbenou, thanked the various participants for attending this scientific event. He also reminded the audience that the aim of the initiative is to wake up the slumbering geniuses in his students, and to encourage them to be more determined in their careers. Dear students, be bold. Entrepreneurship requires boldness. Boldness has genius “he said.
As for the Minister of Higher Education, Eléonore Ladékan Yayi, although unable to attend, she first sent a strong delegation from her cabinet to represent her. In his speech, read by the Secretary General of his ministry, Mr. Ansèque Gomez, it is worth remembering that “our country’s development depends on our compatriots’ capacity for enterprise“. Entrepreneurship,” he adds, “is a lever for economic growth, a true creator of wealth and employment, and a catalyst for innovation among young people for the development of our country.” That’s why, ” these days are designed to create an entrepreneurial, inclusive and dynamic ecosystem “in that they ” offer the opportunity to create synergies between innovators, inventors and investors, in order to enhance the potential of national innovations through the industrialization of competitive endogenous technological solutions adapted to our problems. “said the SG.
However, given the importance of the event, the Minister made every effort to catch up with the ceremony in progress. This surprise visit gave a new twist to the work. Eléonore Yayi, after congratulating the various participants who had come from all over to experience the event, appreciated the idea of encouraging students to become entrepreneurs. ” GeneB is a wonderful initiative. And since we’re talking about entrepreneurship, professional integration and development, we need to be able to respond to these challenges. “she reassured us. Like a mother, the Minister also offered some advice to the young learners. “Dear students, it’s for you that we get in the way, that we deploy ourselves to make sure that you’ll amaze us beyond our expectations“.
It should also be noted that at this ceremony, several business leaders, entrepreneurs and partners responded to the call from Unstim’s Board of Directors. Among others, the remarkable presence of the National Employers’ Council, represented by Mr. Bernard Hounnouvi. ” The aim of this day is to promote entrepreneurship, to promote national genius. That’s why the National Employers’ Council of Benin, which is the umbrella organization of the private sector, has a duty to play its part to the full, to support you and to sell everything we’ve done in Benin to the outside world. We’re not just talking about established inventors, but also about budding inventors from our various universities. “He went on to donate one million CFA francs (1,000,000FCFA) on behalf of the CNP to ensure the success of the work.
Several other speeches, including those by the Mono prefect, the mayor of Lokossa and many others, supported the event. An inaugural lecture by Professor Amen Abiassi on the theme “Youth entrepreneurship in Africa and Benin: an alternative to unemployment and poverty” rounded off the ceremony to launch the 1st edition of GeneB Days. The ribbon-cutting ceremony enabled the authorities to visit the stands displaying the technological achievements of the inventor-innovators. This sumptuous space impresses with the innovations on display, and shows the enthusiasm of young people to reveal the genius that lies dormant within them.
The work ends on Saturday, August 05. At the end of the activities, some fifteen prizes will be awarded to the best achievements in five different fields, including a GeneB grand prize and an Unstim grand prize. To this end, the rectoral authority “invites the jury to be uncompromising, to say science and nothing but science“, because “without science, without research, without technology and without innovation, the development of a nation beats a wing”, she hammered.
